Braiding machine bobbin and carrier



B. R. CARTER BRAIDING MACHINE BOBBIN AND CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 50, 1961 INVENTOR: Ben R \char'd Cal-fey- Oct. 22, 1963 B. R. CARTER 3,107,576

BRAIDING MACHINE BOBBIN AND CARRIER Filed Aug. 50, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i F T I 18d I 4 I I t I I I 18e1 25 I l 16c I ZUb 19 15b I l 25 21 0 H20 180 J 0 Q) 200 2a H62. 1; I I

INVENTOR:

Ben Richard Car-"ferfor braiding.

United States Patent 3,107,576 BRAIDING MACHINE BGBBIN AND CARRIER Ben Richard Qarter, Choriey, England, assignor to B. dz F. arter & Co. Ltd, a company of Great Britain Filed Aug. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 135,078 9 Claims, (Cl. 87-Q2) This invention concerns braiding machines and in particular, relates to an improved bobbin and also to a carrier therefor.

It is well known in the art to provide a bobbin carrier for a braiding machine which incorporates a ratchet letotf to control the rotation of a bobbin supported thereby or integral therewith, such let-off permitting intermittent rotation of a bobbin, thereby periodically to release material from the bobbin for braiding, and being controlled by the tension on the braiding material carried by the bobbin.

The operation of these conventional assemblies is such that, as the braiding material available at any one time is progressively used, the tension in the material still available increases to a maximum, whereupon a pawl is disengaged from the ratchet and a further length of material is released from the bobbin to become available The tension falls as a result of the additional material released and the pawl moves back into engagement with the ratchet. in due course, an increase in tension will cause disengagement of the pawl and more material will be made available.

It has been found that, at high braiding tensions, excessive wear to the ratchet takes place and the extent of the wear is such that an alternative carrier assembly has been preferred.

In the alternative assembly, the bobbin axis has been directed in a plane transversely of the hose or like element being braided and, by virtue of the limited space available between carriers, the maximum radius of the bobbins has been maintained at a low figure, and thus the capacity thereof kept down. As a consequence of the low capacity, an appreciable amount of time is spent replenishing the machine with a corresponding reduction in the time available for actual production.

The present invention is predicated upon a realisation that by appropriately modifying the form of bobbin, a ratchet-type let-off motion may be used even under high braiding tensions and, thus the bobbin capacity, and therefore productivity, may be improved considerably.

According to the present invention, a braiding machine bobbin of the ratchet let-off type and comprising two spaced-apart flanges having a sleeve therebetween and a ratchet base associated with one of said flanges is characterised by a resilient connection between said one flange and said ratchet base.

Preferably, according to the present invention, said resilient connection comprises a rubber or like material disposed between said flange and said ratchet base and bonded, on one surface, to the flange and, on the other surface, to the base.

It has been found that, by using a bobbin constructed in accordance with the present invention, a higher capacity bobbin might be used for high tension braiding than has been possible heretofore. However, the application of a high tension by a conventional carrier for the type of bobbin to which the present invention relates necessitates the use of a compression spring of appreciable longitudinal extent if excessive lateral dimensions are to be avoided. But, a long spring might well become distorted in use and possibly be ineificient in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to avoid this difliculty and to provide a carrier of such form as to allow the application of an appreciable braiding tension without excessive vertical carrier extent.

EJhZE'Zb Patented Get. 22, 1963 ice Thus, according to a further feature of the present invention, there is provided a bobbin carrier for use in combination with a bobbin of the kind before referred to which comprises a bobbin spindle, pivotally mounted pawl means, so disposed as to engage the ratchet base of a bobbin mounted on said spindle, and means for causing said pawl to pivot thereby to engage or be disengaged from said base as appropriate, said means including a sliding weight adapted to be displaced longitudinally of a plurality of support pillars and carrying a pulley around which braiding material passes, and resilient means against which said sliding weight is constrained to move, said resilient means comprising a helical compression spring disposed about each pillar and between said sliding weight and a fixed seating, said sliding weight being adapted to abut and displace a linkage operatively connected to the pawl means, thereby to control the position thereof.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one particular embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a part elevation of a bobbin carrier in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bobbin shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular, to

FIG. 3, a bobbin constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises two flanges 11, 12 secured one to each end of a sleeve 13 by means of pins 13b. The lower end of the sleeve 13 to which the flange 12 is fitted has a reduced outer diameter portion 13a which extends through the flange.

To the outer face of the flange 12 is bonded an annular disc 14, said disc 14 being resilient and of such material as rubber. To the remote face of the disc 14 is bonded a ratchet base 15, said base comprising an annular disc 15a and ratchet teeth 15b depending from the underside of such disc adjacent the periphery thereof.

A braiding machine carrier to which the bobbin is to be applied is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and consists of a bobbin spindle 16 supported upon a base plate 17, pivotall'y mounted pawl means 18, so disposed relative to the spindle as to engage the ratchet base 15 of a bobbin 19 located thereon, and means 29 for causing said pawl means to pivot, thereb to engage or be disengaged from said ratchet base as appropriated.

The spindle 16 has a sleeve 21 about the lower part thereof, such sleeve locating the bobbin 19 axially of the spindle by providing a seating against which the lower extremity 13a of the sleeve 13 abuts.

The pawl means 18 consists of a double-sided release latch 18a pivotally attached to the sleeve 21, the latch passing on both sides of such sleeve 21, one end of said latch 18a being adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 15b and the other end adapted to receive the lower end of an actuating rod 18b. The end of the latch 18a arranged to engage the teeth 15b may, if preferred, be tipped to reduce wear thereto. Rigidly secured to the actuating rod 18b is an abutment member and between said member 18:: and a fixed locating lug 18d is disposed a helical compression spring 182, the spring being located about the actuating rod.

The base plate 17 carries perpendicularly thereto two parallel spaced apart pillars 22, said pillars being connected at their upper ends by a web 23, the Web 23 being adapted to receive a nozzle or guide attachment 24.

The means 20 for causing the pawl means to execute pivotal motion comprises a block or weight 20a in sliding engagement with the pillars 22 and a helical compression spring b about each of said pillars, the springs 26b being disposed between the upper surface of the block 2% and the underside of the Web 23, the latter being fixed relative to the pillars by nuts 2201. To the sliding block 20a is secured a freely rotatable pulley 2-5 and to the locating lug 18d is secured a further pulley 26, said log, in turn, being rigidly attached to the web 2-3. The pulleys 25, 26 are parallel and are so directed relative to the bobbin as to lie approximately tangential to the surface of a partly used bobbin.

The web also has pivotally secured thereto a support 23a, said support being directed radially of the spindle =16 andhaving a radial end portion 23a to engage a complementary shaped detent in the spindle 16.

To the underside of the base plate 17 is secured a cam follower assembly 28 of known type adapted to engage a cam slot of a braiding machine in conventional manner, the said assembly 23 being tack Welded to the base plate at intervals and thus being readily removable for replacement purposes.

In operation, a wire from the bobbin 19 passes over the fixed pulley 26, around the pulley and through the guide attachment 24 to the cable being braided. As the carrier rotates about the cable, the tension in the wire will increase and the pulley 25 will be drawn axially of the pillars '22 against the action of the springs 2%. After displacement by a predetermined extent, the sliding block 2011 contacts the abutment member 180 and, thus, displaces the actuating rod 1812, thereby disengaging the latch- 18a from the ratchet teeth 1517. Such disengagement. will allow the rotation of the bobbin 19 on the spindle 16 and, in turn, a reduction in wire tension. As a consequence of such reduction, the sliding block 20amoves downwardly under the action of the springs 20b and allows the actuating rod 18b to return to its initial position, thereby effecting rte-engagement of the latch 18a with the ratchet teeth 15b and braking the bobbins rotation. A further increase in tension will result in the release of a further length of wire.

It has been found that by means of such a carrier as is proposed, in combination with a bobbin as hereinbefore described, a ratch et type let-off motion may be used for braiding under high tension. As a direct consequence of such use, a longer braiding period between reloading than hithertofore is possible.

Furthermore, by virtue of the resilient connection between the bobbin flange and the ratchet base, the actual noise of the machine during operation is less and the frequency of the wire breakage reduced.

Further advantages stem from the use of a double-sided release latch which provides a wider and more stable bearing surface at the latch support pin than is the case with conventional assemblies; from the simple attachment of the web relative to the support pillars which allows of the ready replacement of compression spring for payaofl tension adjustment; and from the intermittent joint between the base and the cam follower which facilitates removal and replacement of the follower after Wear.

The invention is not restricted to the particular features of the embodiment hereinbefore described, since alternatives will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art. For example, the replacement of the resilient pad between the bobbin flange and the ratchet base by such as a compression spring disposed between lugs on adjacent faces of the flange and the ratchet base may well be used with equal advantage. Furthermore, it will be evident that the bobbin according to the present invention may be applied to conventional carriers where a ratchet type let-off is used.

I claim: 7

1. A braiding machine bobbin of the ratchet le -ofl type comprising two parallel spaced apart flanges, a sleeve disposed between said flanges and maintaining the said spaced disposition, a ratchet base associated with one of 4 said flanges, and a resilient connection between said ratchet base and said one flange.

2. A braiding machine bobbin as claimed in claim 1 in which the said resilient connection comprises a pad of a resilient material secured on one surface to the said one flange, and, on the other surf-ace to the ratchet base.

3. A braiding machine bob-bin of the ratchet let-ofi type comprising two parallel spaced apart flanges, a sleeve disposed between said flanges and maintaining the said spaced disposition, a ratchet base associated with one of said flanges, and a rubber pad secured to the said one flange and to the ratchet base.

4. The combination with a braiding machine bobbin of the ratchet let ofl type comprising two parallel spaced apart flanges, a sleeve disposed between said flanges and maintaining the said spaced disposition, a ratchet base as sociated with one of said flanges, a resilient connection between said ratchet base and said one flange, a carrier 7 comprising a bobbin spindle, pivotally mounted pawl means disposed so as to engage the ratchet base of a bobbin mounted on the spindle, and actuator means adapted to cause the pawl means to pivot thereby to engage or become disengage-d from the ratchet base as appropriate,

the said actuator means including a plurality of support pillars, a sliding weight adapted to be moved longitudinally of said pillars, a pulley mounted upon said sliding weight, a helical compression spring disposed about each support pillar and abutting the said sliding weight, a fixed seatingto receive the other end of each spring, and a linkage operatively connected with the pawl means and adapted to be abutted by the sliding weight and to be displaced therebythus to control the position of the pawl means.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the I said resilient connection between the bobbin flange and ratchet base comprises a rubber pad secured to the said one flange and to the ratchet base.

6. A braiding machine bobbin and carrier combination of the ratchet let-off type comprising two parallel spaced apart flanges, a sleeve disposed therebetween and maintaining said spacing, a ratchet base associated with one of said flanges, a resilient connection between said ratchet base and said one flange, said carrier comprising a bobbin spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on a second sleeve and engaging said ratchet base, actuator means causing said pawl to move into and out of engagement with said ratchet base, said actuator means being controlled by variations in tension on a filament being unwound.

7. A braiding machine bobbin and carrier combination according to claim- 6 wherein said actuator means is controlled by a weight slideably mounted on at least one support pillar, a pulley slideable with said weight, and a linkage operatively connected with said pawl adapted to i be displaced by said weight, said pulley being actuated by tension on said filament.

-8. A combination according to claim 7 including a fixed seat on said pillar, an abutment member on said linkage and adapted to be contacted by said weight, said abutment member being between said weight and said seat, and a helical spring on said pillar between said weight and a web.

9. A combination according to claim 8 wherein there is provided a stationary pulley on said seat, said filament passing over said sli'deable pulley and said stationary pulley whereby increases in tension cause said slideable pulley to rnove towardsaid stationary pulley and decreases in (tension permit said slideable pulley to move away from said stationary pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,840 Koella Dec. 2, 1924 2,489,006 Bunch Nov. 22, 1949 2,506,772 Bunch May 9, 1950 2,897,716 Olson Aug. 4, 1959 2,911,875 Osterm ann et 'al. Nov. 10, 1959 2,933,971 Silver et al Apr. 26, 1960 

1. A BRAIDING MACHINE BOBBIN OF THE RATCHET LET-OFF TYPE COMPRISING TWO PARALLEL SPACED APART FLANGES, A SLEEVE DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES AND MAINTAINING THE SAID SPACED DISPOSITION, A RATCHET BASE ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF 